What makes women top talkers?

Public speaking. Those two words have caused nightmares since the development of the vocal tract. What if I freeze? What if I fall on my way to the podium? Or what if I pull a Joe Biden and curse like a sailor when the microphone is still on?

In her new book, “The Well-Spoken Woman,” media and public-speaking coach Christine Jahnke explains how to deliver a message to an audience without hyperventilating. She’s given pointers to members of Congress, Olympic athletes, first lady Michelle Obama and plenty of other people who view the stage as a form of torture.

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“For the past 16 years, I’ve been a speech coach at the Democratic National Convention,” Jahnke told POLITICO. “Matthew Shepard’s parents spoke at the convention [in 2000]. They were heartbroken, real people. Just to help them work through speaking in front of a crowd, alleviate the nervousness. That was super special.”

Written with women in mind, Jahnke’s book features 10 prominent females — including Ann Richards, Barbara Jordan, Elizabeth Dole, Madeleine Albright and Hillary Clinton — as examples of podium powerhouses.

“I saw Ann [Richards] deliver a speech at the Democratic convention in ’88,” Jahnke said. “She’s an amazing combination of heart, wit and style. And the hair! She used to have photos of her taken in the salon — or the beauty shop, as they say in Texas — and send them out to women voters.”

Giving a nod to Richards’s ability to bring humor to her speeches, Jahnke stresses the importance of a signature style. “Catchphrases help people. It allows them to define themselves,” she said, pointing to Sarah Palin’s “hockey mom” label or the way Sen. Patty Murray took the “mom in tennis shoes” gibe and made it her mantra.

Along with self-assurance, if you watch and critique videos of yourself, make sure your message is in sync with your audience, dress the part and don’t flap your arms around like a migratory bird, you’re on your way to public-speaking success, Jahnke said.